Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Salem, OH and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Lisbon: $2,202 a month against $2,394 in Salem, OH, rent and utilities included – about $2,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Salem, OH
🇺🇸 United States
$2,394
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Salem, OH and in Lisbon

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Salem, OH and in Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,394 in Salem, OH versus $2,202 in Lisbon.

  • Salem, OH $2,394
  • Lisbon $2,202

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,399 in Salem, OH versus $3,274 in Lisbon.

  • Salem, OH $3,399
  • Lisbon $3,274

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,405 in Salem, OH versus $4,346 in Lisbon.

  • Salem, OH $4,405
  • Lisbon $4,346

Living in Salem, OH is roughly 9% more expensive than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Salem, OH 77% above, Lisbon 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salem, OH
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.83 $13.83
$17.04 €15.15
-18.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.28 $49.28
$62.3 €55.4
-20.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.20 $10.20
$11.02 €9.80
-7.44%
Cappuccino
$3.08 $3.08
$3.12 €2.78
-1.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 $2.13
$2.27 €2.02
-6.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 $1.57
$1.74 €1.55
-9.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.02 $4.02
$3.42 €3.04
17.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 $3.92
$3.74 €3.33
4.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salem, OH
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 $0.88
$1.17 €1.04
-24.79%
White Bread (500g)
$3.40 $3.40
$1.86 €1.66
82.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.04 $4.04
$1.54 €1.37
162.34%
Eggs
$3.29 $3.29
$4.06 €3.61
-18.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.24 $11.24
$12.91 €11.49
-12.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.94 $9.94
$7.90 €7.03
25.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.17 $16.17
$17.64 €15.69
-8.33%
Apples (1kg)
$3.36 $3.36
$2.26 €2.01
48.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 $1.43
$1.75 €1.55
-18.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.48 $4.48
$1.89 €1.68
137.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.65 $3.65
$2.56 €2.27
42.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.57 $2.57
$1.85 €1.64
38.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.97 €1.75
-0.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.64 $2.64
$1.45 €1.29
82.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$0.77 €0.69
193.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.74 $9.74
$6.71 €5.97
45.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.32 $13.32
$5.67 €5.04
134.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 $1.96
$1.37 €1.22
43.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 $3.17
$2.11 €1.88
50.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Salem, OH
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.99 $1.99
$2.32 €2.07
-14.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$44.43 €39.52
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.57 $2.57
$3.95 €3.51
-34.94%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.05 €0.93
133.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.80 $39.80
$17.15 €15.26
132.07%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.02 $1.02
$2.19 €1.95
-53.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K $31.3K
$33.8K €30.0K
-7.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$38.3K €34.0K
-31.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salem, OH
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$180 $180
$164 €146
9.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.6 $59.6
$18.48 €16.43
222.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.7 $64.7
$32.96 €29.32
96.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salem, OH
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.61 $45.61
$45.87 €40.80
-0.57%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.68 €16.61
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.08 $12.08
$9.75 €8.67
23.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salem, OH
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$495 $495
$684 €608
-27.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K $14.4K
$17.6K €15.7K
-18.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salem, OH
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.74 $45.74
$104 €92.3
-55.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.12 $40.12
$46.20 €41.09
-13.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.0 $72.0
$99.7 €88.7
-27.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.8 $78.8
$125 €111
-36.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salem, OH
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,625 $1,625
$1,589 €1,414
2.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,312 $1,312
$1,169 €1,040
12.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,540 $2,540
$2,851 €2,536
-10.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,113 $2,113
$1,993 €1,773
6.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,739 $2,739
$7,793 €6,932
-64.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,382 $2,382
$4,418 €3,930
-46.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salem, OH
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,600 €1,423
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
3.85
69.09%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Salem, OH: October 19, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Salem, OH
$1.3K
Lisbon
$1.2K 10.9% $143
Groceries & Markets
Salem, OH
$358
Lisbon
$273 23.7% $85
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salem, OH
$304
Lisbon
$215 29.2% $89
Eating Out
Salem, OH
$221
Lisbon
$247 12% $26
Clothing & Footwear
Salem, OH
$107
Lisbon
$168 58.2% $62
Sport & Entertainment
Salem, OH
$70
Lisbon
$65 6.3% $4.4
Getting Around
Salem, OH
$23 *
Lisbon
$63 177% $40

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,625 in Salem, OH and $1,589 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $49.00 in Salem, OH vs $62.0 in Lisbon. Groceries flip the comparison at $358 vs $273, with Lisbon cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Salem, OH
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
05:32 5:32 AM
10:32 10:32 AM
5 h ahead of Salem, OH
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
155,469
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Salem, OH Lisbon 5,950 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Salem, OH
  • Lisbon

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Salem, OH vs Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Salem, OH and in Lisbon?
Salem, OH and Lisbon differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($2,394 vs $2,202 including rent). Lisbon is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Salem, OH compared to Lisbon?
You'd need roughly $3,590 in Salem, OH and $3,302 in Lisbon to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Salem, OH and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,625 in Salem, OH versus $1,589 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Salem, OH. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Salem, OH or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $2,394 per month in Salem, OH versus $2,202 in Lisbon – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $2,202 in Lisbon versus $2,394 in Salem, OH, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Lisbon but tight or insufficient in Salem, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Lisbon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Salem, OH and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Salem, OH or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Salem, OH and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Salem, OH or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Lisbon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Salem, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Salem, OH vs other spots: cost of living compared

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